Spain’s Santi Cazorla (left) and Thiago Alcantara take part in a training session at Las Gaunas stadium in Logrono, Spain. (AFP)

Reuters
Logrono, Spain


With Spain on the verge of securing their place at Euro 2016, coach Vicente del Bosque is likely to have the luxury of trying out most of his squad members in the holders’ final two Group C qualifiers against Luxembourg and Ukraine.
Spain can make sure of their berth at the tournament in France next year with a win against minnows Luxembourg in Logrono today and play their final qualifier against Ukraine in Kiev on Monday.
They will be chasing an unprecedented third consecutive continental title following victories at the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, with a maiden World Cup triumph in between in 2010.
“We are planning to use a majority of the players in the next two matches,” Del Bosque told a news conference on Thursday.
“We have the chance, if everything goes well, to see everyone out on the pitch and to see their qualities.”
Spain have 21 points from their eight Group C matches, two ahead of second-placed Slovakia, who host Belarus today.
The nine group winners, the nine group runners-up and the best third-placed side qualify directly. The eight remaining third-placed teams contest playoffs for the last four spots.
Spain are unbeaten in 31 home qualifiers, winning their last 16 in the European Championship since a 1-0 reverse to Greece in Zaragoza in June 2003.
Del Bosque’s men thumped Luxembourg 4-0 last October in the reverse fixture and have won all four of the two nations’ previous meetings, all friendlies, without conceding a goal.
“The motivation of a group like ours should be like a marathon runner, not selective,” Del Bosque said.


England skipper Rooney to miss Estonia game
England captain Wayne Rooney will miss today’s 2016 European Championship qualifying match at home to Estonia due to an ankle injury, the Football Association confirmed.
The striker, who last month became England’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has missed three days of training after injuring himself during Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League last Sunday.
In his absence, Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill will captain Roy Hodgson’s side, who have already qualified for next year’s tournament in France after winning all of their eight Group E games to date.
Rooney will remain with the England squad this week, but it remains to be seen if he will travel to Lithuania for their final qualifier next Monday. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott are competing to take his place up front, but Danny Ings is a doubt for the Estonia encounter.
The Liverpool striker is in the England squad for the first time, but again sat out training on
yesterday with an ankle complaint.

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